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FRANCIS WARREN DAVIS 

August 9, 1889 — November 24, 1914 



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VERSES 



by 



FRANCIS WARREN DAVIS 





GRIFFITH-STILLINGS PRESS 
BOSTON 



I918 






COPYRIGHT, C. A. DAVIS 
I918 



APR 16 1913 

Sci4 4 9294 



INDEX 



PAGE 

Preface v 

Gray Spires of Bowdoin 3 

Mother 4 

To My Valentine 5 

The Kiss 6 

Harmony 7 

The Rainbow Queen 8 

To My Love, on Her Birthday 9 

Youth's Vision of Love 10 

Turn Not Away, My Love 11 

Rondel 12 

Sonnet 13 

Dawn 14 

Eventide 15 

"Yet Even Nature—" 16 

The Hidden Call 17 

The Mountain 18 

One Holy Day 19 

"What is Man, Oh! God?" 20 

Easter Thoughts 22 

A Year Ago at Eastertide 23 

To My Mother, on Her Birthday 25 

Thou Lovest Me 26 

A Northern Youth to the Voice of the Southland . 27 

Hope Triumphant 29 

The End of the Course 30 



111 



PREFACE 



Francis Warren Davis was endowed with 
high gifts of mind and spirit and personality. 
Early in life he showed a tendency to literary 
work. He had his schooling in Newton, Mass., 
at Bowdoin College and at Harvard, from which 
he hoped to be graduated in 1913. But his 
activities were interrupted by lingering illness, 
which ended in his death in November, 1914. His 
wish was to serve his generation in devotion to 
literary pursuits. Blessed with a beautiful 
voice, the symbol of his musical soul, and with a 
talent for poetic expression, he ''sang" with 
double appeal to ear and to eye. The poems in 
this little volume at least preserve the latter 
appeal. 

Because, as boy and youth and young man, 
he was always a devoted son, he never felt that 
his writings were finished until "Mother" had 
affixed the seal of her approval. His spiritual 
love for her is suggested in several of the 
following poems. 

The late Doctor William DeWitt Hyde, then 



President of Bowdoin College, paid the following 
tribute to the young man : 

"Warren's short life has enriched the world. 
. . . Cheerful in the face of suffering, apprecia- 
tive of the good in those about him, forgetful 
of their failings, just in his habits of thought, 
high in his purpose — he furnished an inspira- 
tion to many. . . . All the fellows liked Warren 
for his cheerful disposition and his willingness to 
entertain them with his singing. . . . How hard 
to think the beautiful voice stilled, and the 
bright mind not permitted to do its work on 
earth. . . . He was a good boy; full of gentle- 
ness and kindness, with gifts and graces that 
won him many friends wherever he went. I 
have watched his development with interest and 
hope, and I am glad to have known him." 

His poem, "Hope Triumphant," printed in 
this slender volume, was read at Warren's 
funeral service. 

This little book by no means exhausts the 
product of the young man's busy pen. Other 
verses will be printed later. Meanwhile, it is 
hoped that these selections from his writings will 
serve to suggest the promise and the aspiration 
of one who, having too early joined the ''choir 
invisible," had already written "music" that 
is now part of "the gladness of the world." 



VERSES 



GRAY SPIRES OF BOWDOIN 

Gray Spires of Bowdoin, soft crowned In silvery sheen, 

Ye stand as hallowed beacon lights in hearts 

Of loyal sons now strayed to all earth's parts, 

To welcome home bold youth or age serene. 

Mid rush and maelstrom of this earthly scene 

Thy heaven-communing towers, like twin darts 

Do rise and point the way beyond these marts 

To vv^iere the calm of peace shall change our mien. 

Here youth, enrapt in manhood's visioned prime, 
Doth turn and sigh when ivied portal's passed. 
Here, lost in Auld Lang Syne, doth age at last 
Renounce his cares and worship at thy shrine. 
Gray Spires, ye are, through great or mean careers, 
Emblems of joy in youth and peace in years. 



MOTHER 

My heart, that long hath yearned for thee 
While thou wert ill and far away. 
Doth leap for joy this glad May-day 
When God returneth thee to me. 

Home is not home, nor is light, light, 
When thou art gone and gone so long 
That shadows deepen and memories throng, 
Till day itself seems dim as night. 

Now hope at last with joy is rife. 
She lives! She comes! Ah, greeting so, 
Close clasped in long embrace, we know 
How sacred is our bond of life. 

Oh, mother mine, sweet soul of love, 
God gave me thee and me to thee, 
That we through life's long way should be 
In closer walk with Him above. 

Through life's vicissitudes and tears, 
Through pain and anguish, stain and woe, 
Thy faith upholdeth me; I know 
That thou art near, and banish fears. 

Thy faithful, self-forgetting care. 
Thy loving service nobly meant, 
A love that o'er and o'er is spent, 
Hath built a mansion for thee "there." 

Ay, there, where mother love is known 
As earth's divinest, noblest gift. 
Whose proud possessor may uplift 
Her face to heaven, and see the throne. 

Ah, me! were I not sure that we 
In heavenly realms beyond should meet, 
To live and love at God's own feet, — 
I'd scoff at Immortality. 



TO MY VALENTINE 

Dearest maid of all the years, 
Thee no valentine e'er endears 

In all the lavish praise I'd sing; 
For In thy eyes I see my quest, 
In thy heart I find my rest. 

To thee supremest love I'd bring. 



THE KISS 

When a maiden fair with auburn hair 

Bade me bring my lips to hers, 
Ah, then what joy, free from alloy, 

Came singing my heart to immerse. 

To the garden of love I fly like a dove 

Swift winging its way in the blue. 
Till, our arms entwined, my heart is enshrined 

In the temple whose Goddess is you. 

What sudden delight, like a dream in the night 
Is the firm, warm touch of thy lips; 

And in love's first embrace, thy sweet flushed face 
Doth seem like the rose the bee sips. 

Those lips of thine that but now were mine — 

One brief sweet mom.ent of bliss — 
Have broken the chains of my throbbing pains, 

Till naught is felt but thy kiss. 

What magic! The power of love to devour 

Grim woe and the legions of fear. 
To blot from the mind the griefs of m^ankind, 

To feel only love now is near. 



HARMONY 

Now I pillow my lips on tlr/ wax-m rosy cheek 
And thy hair in sweet fragrance lies near 

While the stars we Avere watching, I eagerly seek 
In thine eyes, where is mirrored no tear. 

And the sound of thy voice, as It answers the note 

Of the ardent young singer of love, 
Is the sweet, thrilling song from the whlppoorwlll's throat 

In the stillness of night from above. 

Bending over thee so, 'neath the stars' soft glow 

Thou dost seem like the fairy of love. 
Who Is sent to pierce hearts, with bright bending bow, 

And a shaft that flies swifter thandove. 

Whether fairy or naiad, at thy feet shall be laid 

Every treasure that I may command. 
Take my heart and my all; yet how sad am I made 

That so poor is the worth of this hand. 

Ah! now let us hie to love's temple of joy, 

As the sun slowly sinks in the west. 
Hand In hand let us go, where no sound may annoy. 

But where nature may lull us to rest. 

Behold! here Is the glade we are seeking, fair maid. 
Where reign peace and the glad song of bird. 

Where by looking above through the arched trees' shade 
We may know that our God is a third. 

Ah! Beloved! the darkness of night swiftly falls; 

Grant thy lips In one last fond embrace . . 
Then 'neath stars shining high In the darkening sky 

We were one in God's eye, face to face. 



THE RAINBOW QUEEN 

Melancholy and alone, I lay 

On pillowed couch at early day, 

And ever the beat of that cold, gray rain 

Struck chill and numb my aching brain. 

Long hath darkness' loathesome mask 
Enshrouded nature's springtime task. 
While the songful birds, all hushed in awe 
Of earth's grim monster, charm no more. 

At length, with heavy eyes of sleep 
I found oblivion's kindly deep. 
Nor dreamed therein of happiness. 
But sank to sweet unconsciousness. 

What magic power oped mine eyes 
I know not; I found a Paradise; 
Where all before was dim as night 
Reigns the Goddess of Colorful Light. 

For lo, a rainbow spans the sky. 

And a myriad fairies round her fly 

To dry the tears from her devvy cheeks, 

W^hile the sun's caress her bright hair seeks. 

Swift to my heart steals the pulsing life 
That awakens the earth, and o'er all is rife; 
In chariots of clouds float down from above 
Mad bevies of fairies to woo me with love. 

Away Melancholy, with sombreness fraught, 
The world is gay with light, and naught 
Shall keep me from the radiant spring 
Whose praise the joyous birds now sing. 

Anon the glorious rainbow fades. 
But the blue of heaven crowns the glades; 
And I, being bathed in the sunshine of love, 
Yield to its wooing like soft-cooing dove. 



TO MY LOVE, ON HER BIRTHDAY 

Oh! my love for thee Is a mountainous sea 
O'er which God alone hath control, 
For It hurls from Its depths to Its uttermost lea 
Its wild, tumultuous soul. 

Oh! my love for thee Is the strength of the hills 
In the beauty of holiness made, 
As they ride to the grandeur that nature fulfils 
Their foundations in mother-earth laid. 

Aye, my love for thee is the sun at the dawn 

That hath come to give life to mankind; 

That shall mount the blue heavens resplendent each morn, 

Till a halo its glory shall find. 

Yea, my love for thee Is the sun in the west. 
That sinks amid golden fleece. 
E'en as at the last we sink into rest 
To wake In eternal peace. 



YOUTH'S VISION OF LOVE 

In the warmth of the glow of the red, burning coals, 

I sat musing on life and my love, 
And the swift, fitful flare seemed to image life's goals, 

While for thee a pure spire winds above. 

For in pain's anguished depth or on joy's tranquil height, 

Whether laughter, or tear, or a sigh. 
Thy face and thy form, and thy spirit-ray bright, 

Is the steady true light of mine eye. 

Loving youth never wavers nor turneth away. 

Once the vision is locked in his heart; 
His desire in all else is but frame to the fay 

In whose life he longs to bear part. 

As my gaze is now deep in the bed of bright gleams 
The wood falls, and high leaps the fire, — 

Ah, the joy when I see, as so oft in my dreams. 
Thou art crowning my world with thy spire. 



10 



TURN NOT AWAY, MY LOVE 

Turn not away, my love, the angelic face, 
Shroud not this spirit in dark robe of gloom. 
Spurn not this aching heart with word of doom, 
Nor take from out love's deepening well of grace 
The perfect blooming flower of life's embrace. 

"Yield, yield 1" loud cries the tumult of my soul; 

For in despair I strive by vain device 

To move the heart resolved on sacrifice 

All tuned to love's sweet lyre, yet granting not the goal 

"Yield all, win all — must give to gain the whole." 



The best within me surges, leaps, controls, 

I feel a giant's power and lust of strife, 

My very soul doth pant for fuller life: 

I take my love by storm — she naught withholds 

Is mine for aye; thus God doth join two souls. 



11 



RONDEL 

{In imitation of Swinburne) 

Kissing her hair, I sat beside my love, — 
Wound and unwound it, wove and held above, 
Adored the glorious strands, drew close her face, 
Sweet as sweet flowers and full of lyric grace; 
Looking deep in her eyes, — I found her fair 
Kissing her hair. 

Dreams were ne'er dearer than her face to me, — 
Dreams of sweet Lethe on a summer sea; 
No veil could float between her eyes and mine, 
No joy could transcend her, divine — 
Unless King Death had caught and held me there,- 
Kissing her hair. 



12 



SONNET 

Sorrow had spread its gray-grim canopy 
O'er my head, and sunk its leaden weight 
For anchor in my heart, while grinning fate, 
Impenetrable mask, held banquet over me. 
With heavy eyes, I gazed on death's gray sea 
Where this poor bark, so safely moored of late, 
Rode restlessly the main, no captain, nor a mate, 
Now drawing near the whirlpool helplessly. 

Behold! the lightning flash of hope above: 
Hope — the rainbow of life, God's promised seal 
On the flood-gates of sorrow, harbinger of weal, 
Eternal hope, borne on the wings of love. 
Sorrow, death, the awful vortex fail. 
Frail craft, Love captains thee, sail on, oh sail! 



13 



DAWN 

The sky above, a clear cerulean gray, 

'Soft pinks and yellows flush anew. 
Time, just before the dawn, th' awakening of day, 

A wondrous stillness o'er the dew. 

Only the rush of secret waters churning 

Seems to brave that solemn hush. 
The trees to lighter, greener hues are turning 

While now begins to pipe the thrush. 

The massive mountains dark, and far away 

Recline beneath the clear, soft sky. 
Fingers of light, first shafts of day, 

Stroke the snowy peak on high. 



14 



EVENTIDE 

A swirling, roaring river foaming white, 
Rocks their jagged edges cleaving through. 

The waters rush 'neath arch of vaulted height, 
The torrents find wild avenue. 

No human eye can pierce that pitch-black arch, 

The mists of evening cling so close, 
The booming river beats its wild death march. 

The whitening fog creeps on and up, morose. 

The gray of after-twilight fills the sky; 

While shadows crown the mountains, wondrous-hued, 
Grave, silent night hastening from on high. 

Shrouds all in blackness crude. 



15 



"YET EVEN NATURE — " 

With rapt, but anxious, look I gaze 
On nature's mirrored breast. 

And strive to calm the quicken'd pulse, - 
To set my heart at rest. 

For love has roused in me a power 
Whose force defies all thought; 

Love wakes within a primal might 
That leaves my mind distraught. 

Now, even nature powerless seems 

My fever'd sense to cool. 
And lo! I see her not at all, 

But thee, within the pool. 

Thy glorious golden braids entwin'd 

Fall softly o'er thy breast; 
Thy full rich-crimsoned lips do part 

And smile, still unpossessed. 

Thy cheeks are soft with tint of rose, 
Thy hands outstretched are pure, 

And undefiled by earth's deceits 
Or man's impassioned lure. 

Thine eyes, deep mines of precious ore, 

I long to search in all 
Their hidden realms of mystery 

And read their secret call. 

Oh! Heaven but grant me grace to live, 

To taste the wondrous cup 
Held brimming, full, a nectar sweet 

Ere Thou would'st draw me up! 



16 



THE HIDDEN CALL 

When the sere and yellow leaves of later fall 

Have spread their far-blown covering over all, 

Have sought for refuge 'neath some cold, gray wall; 

When the sumach and the ivy, blown to shreds. 

Whirl and flaunt their sadly tattered heads 

In the wind, cool and keen, that brought their brilliant 

reds, — 
One walks amid the rustling leaves and hears the hidden 

call: — 
The voice of winter whispering low the word that nature 

dreads. 



17 



THE MOUNTAIN 

When giant thunderclouds do rise 

Majestic o'er thy head, 
They seem thy spirit semblance 

Should'st ever thou be dead; 
When mists roll up in splendor 

O'er the beauty of the hills, 
Then thou dost reign transcendent 

E'en as God doth rule our wills. 

What fleeting shadows now are these, 

That swift across thy face 
Keep changing thee from dark to light, 

And never ease their pace? 
Are they the heavenly forms of men 

Who to thy spirit prayed, 
Come back anon to prove their love 

With soft, caressing shade? 

Now slowly sinks within thy arms 

The golden tressed sun; 
Yet even as thou holdest her 

She melts — and day is done. 
Anon from out the womb of night 

A child of light is born: 
For lo! the even star hath come 

To guard thee till the morn. 

The glory of God's firmament 

Doth crown thy lofty crest, 
And myriad stars in heaven stoop 

To kiss and make thee blest; 
E'en God himself doth seem to smile 

Upon thy wooded slopes. 
And granteth thee in beauty's realm 

The chrism of thy hopes. 



18 



ONE HOLY DAY 

Most sacred holy day, that day of days 

When we in sweet communion, heart and soul, 

Let nature's peaceful beauty permeate 

Our inner life and walked and talked together 

Till the shadows grew apace, and the sun waxed red. 

Clear were the heavens, wind-swept, cold and blue 

And clear was the vision that transcended us 

And brought us face to face, two souls as one, 

With perfect understanding in our eyes. 

We spoke of faith and mutual delight 

In giving one another every joy 

That lay within our power to devise. And then 

We spoke of truth, the arch confessor of the past. 

And this each gladly brought as offering. 

Not sacrifice, before the other's view. 

For all that went before of joy or good 

Doth glorify this higher, new-found state 

The consummating purpose and ideal. 

When the evening shadows merged in darker night, 

And the stars above shone clearly cold — we sat 

By the leaping fire, bathed in warmth and cheer, 

Now watching silently the flame's red flare, 

Clasped hands proclaiming hearts aflame within, 

Now rapt in depths of intimate research 

Along the hidden paths and meanings 

Of this life of ours — until we found the chrism 

Of our hopes and our despair, and sighed and smiled. 

Ere the v/ood was all consumed, and the glowing coals 
Still shot their amber, blue and red-tongued darts 
Above the gray white ashes into blackened space, 
I held you in my arms; and resting there 
You gave me your heart's secret, and I, too 
Bared you mine. . . . And so in ecstacy 
We gazed far into life's beyond, far past the dim 
And saddened present years, where Happiness 
Awaits, and Hope is justified and Love is all. 



19 



"WHAT IS MAN, OH! GOD?' 

Great God of all, who maketh this earthly ball to quake, 

Who cleaveth the firmament with lightning's deathly wake, 

Wielder of the untamed forces of the air — 

What is man, oh! God, that he may tear 

The heavenly veil in twain and dare thy throne to take. 

Shall this poor creature thou didst form of meanest clay, 
Whose living breath is but the gasp of dying day. 
Whose brutish instinct leaps to seek and guard his pelf. 
Whose highest aim is but to rule the world himself — 
Shall he raise eyes to heaven to search the mystic way? 

He wears his frail frame out in futile, ceaseless toil. 
Who strives to be divine and would his God assoil; 
Almost too late, at death, he knows the lifelong task. 
Though victor over man, a vacant staring mask 
To that All-smiling Wisdom who redeems his mortal coil. 

When Man uplifts mankind through skill of eye or hand, 
Or some great genius brain has seeming wonders planned, 
And then doth turn with equal nobleness of heart 
To name Almighty God the giver of his art, — 
Behold and know him child of God, not yet unmanned. 

Yet Thou deep Fathomer of man's most inward soul. 
Dost know how many strive to reach no higher goal. 
And worship no diviner Self in glance above 
Than that false flame the soul of Race and Human Love, 
Whose pure expression is: "Mankind shall man extol." 

Ay, m.an extol and hymn the glorious manmade plan, 

The Deity, Im.perial Destiny and Unity of Man — 

A mighty, swelling choir doth Science lead: the brazen 

throats 
From out the hosts of Antichrist raise loud the notes, 
And all the mighty blasphemy ends where it began. 



20 



In shrieking dissonance the raucous laugh rings shrill, 
From higher critics' throng, whence men declaim the skill 
Of human kind, in scorn of miracles divine, 
And seek God in his own creation to confine,^ — 
The galley-slave of laws and forces He did will. 

Yet vainly they deride, exalting science' might, 

In vain decree no mystery shall flee its light. 

For, from that outer ruin of merging dark and day 

Come mocking voices, echoing laughter far away, 

Beyond their ken: — the seven riddles clothed in night. 

And now, as nineteen centuries ago, when He, 
The risen Christ, appeared to those who did agree 
Within their naturaf minds, though they disciples were, 
That His was only spirit form; so now they err, — ^ 
Oh, modern Jericho— who preachers of the Ghost-Christ be. 

Oh man, you gaze within the crater of a burning hell 
When you are bid to look for God within yoursel'. 
Arc thou infallible.? Behold thy craven heart. 
Thy shrinking frame, that goes to dust froni earthly mart, 
Thy failing brain, that knowest only one thing well. 

Oh, remnant of the faithful! Retrieve thy blemished sword! 
Stand forth, uphold the Cross, exalt the written Word; 
Hymn praises to thy God in Heaven — the Holy Trinity! 
Uprise, ye armies of the Lord, your victory 
Shall be all glorious — for "Thus saith the Lord." 



21 



EASTER THOUGHTS 

Peal! Peal, glad bells! ring out the song,- 

Christ Jesus is risen today! 
Let all mankind rejoice in heart, 

Let each give praise, and pray. 

His Heavenly Father called Him higher 
To share His kingly throne — 

That throne beyond all earthly sense 
Where man must e'er atone. 

His noble work. His life ideal, 

His magic touch and vision 
Hath brought to man salvation's hope, 

Hath glorified His mission. 

Throughout the ages. Calvary's blood 

Hath purified the world, 
Christ's banner now triumphant floats, 

From east to west unfurled. 

From land to land His word went forth. 

Creating life anew; 
For Christ-given life is eternal life 

Divine and real and true. 

Oh, build a mansion for me there, 

Where I in peace may dwell, 
Surrounded by his boundless love. 

Apart from earth-made cell. 

Create in me, O Lord, this day. 

This glorious Easter morn, 
A higher, nobler, inner light, 

A soul, of Christ, reborn. 



22 



A YEAR AGO AT EASTERTIDE 

A year ago at Eastertide, 
I sang my heart's desire to thee; 
And thou in shy surprise, for pride 
Of freedom, half rebelled at me. 

Yet in thy heart's heart grew the flower 
Of love more pure than lily white; 
Tho' deeper-hued than flame-vine's bower, 
With love's impassioned might. 

Sadly the year drew out its length, 
In care and painful restlessness, 
With thee alone to build me strength, 
By thy good cheer and winsomeness. 

How dear had grown thy loving smile. 
How sweet thy lips on mine had been — 
I knew; but knew far surer, while 
In absence long, love raged within. 

I've gained the Southland's warmer clime, 
I've roamed her beauties through and through, 
I've basked in her serene sunshine. 
And sailed o'er lakes of deepest blue. 

I've heard the mocking-bird at night, 
Pour out his heart to woo his mate, 
In tones so rich with sheer delight. 
It seemed he boldly challenged fate. 

I've gazed far up, where azure deeps 
Conceal the clouds of yesterday, 
And lo! the Southwind gently sweeps 
The tree-tops, so they bend and sway. 



23 



I've heard the song the Southland sings, 
Full-throated, rich, a rapture unrestrained: 
A song that stirs the soul, which wings 
Its way unburdened — a higher freedom gained. 

When thus the glorious South hath Vv'oced, 
With every splendid gift of Nature true. 
My eyes turn Northward, with each passing mood, 
For heart and mind and soul claim you. 



21 



TO MY MOTHER ON HER BIRTHDAY 

Though the years roll endlessly on, 
Like waves on the world-wide shore, 
Never failing in rhythmical roar 
To record they have come and gone, — 
Fear not, dearest Mother, the flight 
Of swift, inexorable Time, — 
A greater and still more sublime 
Shall conquer his terrible might. 

None other than Time-warring Love, 
Wielder of lightning-charged dart. 
That, unfailing, transfixes the heart, 
Even Love, God-sent from above. 

Born Vv^ithin thee, the Love spirit grew; 

It stayed thee when stormed and hard-pressed. 

Ne'er fled thee, tho' bruised and distressed, 

Until peace out of chaos it drew. 

Unto Love you sacrificed all; 

And 't was Love, with God's grace that has hurled 

Thy sweet spirit back to this world, 

From that land whence is no recall. 

In the years that wait thee beyond 
Whatever thy Lord may decide. 
In His Infinite wisdom and pride. 
Cling thou to His life-giving wand. 
It will keep thee, the cherished of earth, 
It will bring thee to joy untold, 
It will lead thee at last to the fold 
Whence thou camest the day of thy birth. 



25 



THOU LOVEST ME 

To my Mother 

When I review the passing years, 

Stand looking back through vale of tears, 

Renewing all the struggles, dark with fears, 

At last I understand. 

It was thy hand that held me fast 

That guided me aright; 

That soothed the throbbing might 

Of unrelenting pain by day and night. 

It was thy Love, — 

Oh, heaven-sent Love, 

Transcending all, — thy Mother-love, that braved 

The deep despair, engraved 

Upon a heart as yet unsaved, 

And freed the soul 

That saw as goal 

Naught higher than earthly passion's fire, 

Until attuned at last, to sweeter lyre. 

It sang the son-g of pure desire. 

E'en now when God 

With iron rod 

Hath seemed to strike us down to dust. 

To crush us till the pain doth seem unjust, 

Only to raise us slowly to sublimer trust; 

E'en now though faint 

From death's chill taint 

Thou shieldest me and sharest all the pain. 

Thou cheerest me and strengthenest life's chain, 

Thou lovest me, — I know that life is not in vain. 



26 



A NORTHERN YOUTH 

TO 

THE VOICE OF THE SOUTHLAND 



Through the deepening mists and gloom 

I peer 
Far beyond my fog-bound room 

And hear, — 
As one hears o'er the breakers' boom 

The leer 
Of the sounding siren's doom, — 

And hear 
The voice of the Southland, 

Looming clear. 

Oh my heart, from cold gray walls 

Set free. 
Warmed by the breath that enthralls 

The sea, 
Attuned to music that palls 

On thee. 
Here where the sun ne'er falls 

On thee, — 
My heart, the Southland calls 

To thee. 

Oh list to the mocking-bird 

At night. 
And let thy voice be heard 

As light. 
On the breeze that wafts thy word, 

Oh Knight, 
Through the pine-trees, softly stirred, 

Delight 
Oh, my soul, so long deferred. 

Thy sight. 



27 



'Neath the orange-blossoms' charm 

I stay 
And dream on bended arm 

By day; 
Or through some shady palm 

Survey 
The matchless heavenly calm. 

Oh may 
The Southland grant this balm, 

I pray. 

In that magic land of sun 

I know 
Thy song will gaily run 

And flow, 
Until my heart become 

Aglow 
With all the South has done. 

And lo! 
My muse and I as one 

Shall go. 

Oh haste the day of glad 

Sunshine, 
Whose power of life will mad 

Like wine, 
And of its warmth shall add 

To mine. 
Away from the gloom of sad 

Confine! 
Completely claim this lad 

As thine! 



28 



HOPE TRIUMPHANT 

Though the soul Is racked with torture, 

And the heart's own fires are banked; 
Though Hfe's meanings gleam but faintly 

From the shadows dim outflanked; 
Yet Hope Is still triumphant 

And doth serenely rise, 
From love's eternal altars 

That kindle In thine eyes. 

When the body nigh Is vanquished 

By the fierceness of Its pains; 
When ambition oft doth languish 

In the seeking of its gains; 
Still Hope doth reign triumphant 

And points along the years, 
Where love hath home and joy, 

And dries the well of tears. 

Do the years seem long and barren 

That you know you must outwalt? 
Does your heart seem nigh to breaking 

With that span of time to sate.^ 
Then Hope and Love are with thee, 

Nobly to bear thee up; 
They'll share the age-long journey, 

Till thou may'st drain the cup. 



29 



THE END OF THE COURSE 

Yonder the setting sun; and in my heart 

Hath died this hour the noble part 

I was to play in life's wild mart; 

The dreams ambition raised lie dead. 

Oh! sadder course, this dying ere the race began 

Than ever to have run and failed in every plan. 



Oh! God, what is this purposeless, 

This endless waiting on Thy Will ? 

Must teach me nobler patience, Lord, 

Complete surrender to Thy word, 

But, pray Thee send me light; 

From Thy almighty Wisdom, sight 

To help my fainting, weary soul — 

With Thy perfection make my spirit whole! 



30 



H16 



57 



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JBINDERY INC. ^ 

^ DEC 88 

5^^ N. MANCHESTER, 
'^^ias^ INDIANA 46962 



